Means for dispensing pressurized liquids



1964 R. H. ABPLANALP 3,113,612

' MEANS FOR DISPENSING PRESSURIZED LIQUIDS Filed April 18, 1961 INVENTOR. 908597" 6 r46fLHM4LP M M E9 5 H77'OPA/EY /5a I l United States Patent 3,118,612 MEANS FOR DISPENSING PRESSURIZED LIQUIDS Robert H. Abplanalp, 10 Hewitt Ava, Bronxville, N.Y. Filed Apr. 18, 1961, Ser. No. 103,942 3 Claims. (Cl. 239579) This invention relates to means for dispensing pressurized materials and is directed more particularly to the dispensing of these materials from containers in such manner that the dispensed material has a whirling movement in the spray pattern in order to obtain maximum distribution of liquids and/or solids in said pattern.

Dispensers of the general character to which the present invention relates are generally provided with a valve stem surmounted by a push button with an outlet orifice in one lateral side through which the material is dispensed. In accordance with the present invention, in contradistinction, the structure is so constituted as to dispense such material through the top of the button and to do so in such manner that the material is in the form of a whirling spray. The object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical construction whereby this is accomplished.

Speaking generally, the button of the present invention is provided in its bottom with a socket to receive the valve stem. In the base of the socket is formed a recess which is substantially coaxial with the socket and which has an outlet orifice extending through the top wall of the button. Also formed in the base of the socket are one or more flow passages which overlie and are open to the socket and lead to and merge into said recess substantially tangentially of the latter.

The valve stem which fits into the socket has an extension which closes the bottom of the recess, leaving in the upper portion thereof a swirl chamber. One or more ducts through the valve stem lead to the passages of the button.

With this construction, materials, fed from the associated container, through the valve stem duct or ducts, flow through the passages in the button to the recess which functions as a swirl chamber. Entering this chamber substantially tangentially thereof, the materials partake of a rapid swirling movement which persists as they are discharged through the outlet orifice to issue therefrom in a whirling spray pattern.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and appended claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a central section showing a valve stem and button embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmental underneath bottom plan view of the button, showing the swirl chamber and the flow passages which lead thereto.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a central section showing one modified form of a valve stem that may be used with the button illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the valve stem shown in FTG. 5 as viewed from the line 6-6 of the latter figure.

which may be of any desired external shape provided only that it has a discharge outlet 2 leading through its upper surface. A nozzle may be associated with this outlet if desired, but this is optional.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a push button The button is provided with a socket 3 extending upwardly from its bottom and adapted to receive the upper portion of a valve stem 4. In the base of this socket is formed a recess 5 and one or more flow passages 6 lead inwardly across the base of the socket and merge into said recess 5 in substantially tangential relation to the latter. The bottoms of both the recess 5 and flow passages 6 are open to the socket.

The valve stem 4, as shown in FIGS. l-4, has three ducts 7 separated from one another by radial partitions 8 which extend to a point adjacent to but spaced from the upper end 9 of the main portion of the valve stem. These partitions are tapered interiorly so as to leave an annular space 10 in the upper portion of the valve stem.

The valve stem has an axially located upward extension 40 which fits into the lower portion of the recess 5 to seal the bottom thereof and leave, above said extention, a substantially circular swirl chamber 11 substantially coaxial with both the outlet orifice 2 and the socket 3. The bottom of this swirl chamber lies above the base of the socket so that the material to be dispensed must first flow upwardly through the flow chambers 6 to the level of the swirl chamber before it can flow inwardly to said chamber. This insures proper swirling of such material in said chamber.

The valve stem 4 may form part of any suitable form of valve by which the flow of material from the container may be controlled. As shown in the drawings this valve is of the type disclosed in the Robert H. Abplanalp Patent No. 2,631,814, which is herein incorporated by reference. Thus the stem of the valve is secured to a body member 12, above which the stem of the valve is provided with a neck 13 embraced by a flexible resilient washer 14 which, when the valve stem is depressed, is flared downwardly to uncover ports 15, it being understood that there is a port 15 to each of the ducts 7 in the showing of FIGS. 1-4. All of these ducts lead upwardly to the annular space 10 which is in communication with the under side of the two flow passages 6, as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2.

With this arrangement, downward pressure applied to the push button 1 will correspondingly depress the valve stem and downwardly flare or bend the washer 14 to uncover the ports 15 and permit the material to pass from the container upwardly and into the annular space 10. From this space the material enters the passages 6 in the button, flows through said passages to and tangentially enters the swirl chamber 11, wherein it is swirled about to exit through the passage 2 with a swirling action and be discharged therefrom as a whirling spray. The conventional spring is associated with a nipple 16 to normally hold the parts in the non-dispensing position shown in FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, which show an illustrative modified form of valve stem, the stem 4a has but a single duct 7a with a single port 15a and leading upwardly to an annular space 10a which corresponds to the space it). The struc ture is otherwise as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the structure which I have chosen for illustration there are two flow passages 6 which lead to the swirl chamber 11, although one or more than two of these assages may be provided without departing from this invention.

An important advantage of the present invention is that all individual parts thereof may be made of plastic material by one shot injection die procedures. The button may be made in one piece, as shown, and there is no necessity of adding any separate part in order to obtain the whirling spray pattern resulting from the operation of this structure. It is simple, economical to manufacture, and thoroughly efficient in its operations and it provides a convenient means for discharging aerosol and other pressurized material with a whirling spray through the top of the button.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an assembly of the character described, a push button provided in its bottom with a valve stem receiving socket and at its top with an outlet orifice leading from a substantially circular swirl chamber formed in the under side of the top wall of the button above and open to the interior of the socket, a passage also formed in the under side of the top wall of the button with the bottom of said passage open to the socket and merging into said circular chamber substantially tangentially of the latter, and a valve stem seated in the socket and provided with a plurality of discharge ducts leading to said passage.

2. In an assembly of the character described, a push button provided in its bottom with a socket and with an outlet orifice leading through the top wall of the button from a substantially circular recess formed in the under side of said top wall with its bottom above and open to the interior of the socket, there being also formed in the button a passage leading from the base of the socket to and merging into said recess substantially tangentially of the latter, and a valve stem extending into said socket and provided with a discharge duct communicating with said passage of the button, said valve stem having a projection extending into said recess for a part of the depth of the latter to close the bottom of said recess, the remainder of the depth of said recess forming a swirl chamber substantially coaxial with the outlet orifice.

3. In an assembly according to claim 2, wherein the socket, outlet orifice, recess and valve stem are all substantially coaxial with one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,631,814 Abplanalp Mar. 17, 1953 2,966,461 Bretz Sept. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 935,333 France Feb. 2, 1948 

1. IN AN ASSEMBLY OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A PUSH BUTTON PROVIDED IN ITS BOTTOM WITH A VALVE STEM RECEIVING SOCKET AND AT ITS TOP WITH AN OUTLET ORIFICE LEADING FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY CIRCULAR SWIRL CHAMBER FORMED IN THE UNDER SIDE OF THE TOP WALL OF THE BUTTON ABOVE AND OPEN TO THE INTERIOR OF THE SOCKET, A PASSAGE ALSO FORMED IN THE UNDER SIDE OF THE TOP WALL OF THE BUTTON WITH THE BOTTOM OF SAID PASSAGE OPEN TO THE SOCKET AND MERGING INTO SAID CIRCULAR CHAMBER SUBSTANTIALLY TANGENTIALLY OF THE LATTER, AND A VALVE STEM SEATED IN THE SOCKET AND PROVIDED WITH A PLURALITY OF DISCHARGE DUCTS LEADING TO SAID PASSAGE. 